Rotating Connector for Connecting the Lower Receiver of a Rifle to the Butt Stock

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a rotating connecter for attaching the lower receiver of a rifle to the butt stock. The rotating connector comprises an outer bushing, an inner bushing and at least one bushing cap. The outer bushing includes a flat bottom portion, at least two threaded holes and at least one hollow interior cavity. The flat bottom portion of the outer bushing comprises a first hole and a second hole in which the first hole includes at least one stainless steel ball, a spring plunger and a spring. The second hole includes at least one bushing stop. The at least one stainless steel ball, the spring plunger, the spring in the first hole and the at least one bushing stop in the second hole are held in place utilizing at least one set screw. The inner bushing includes a plurality of recesses having a threaded hollow cavity configured to receive the butt stock of the rifle.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to co-pending application Ser. No.15/366,423 filed on Dec. 1, 2016, which claims priority to ApplicationSer. No. 62/262,627 filed on Dec. 3, 2015, which is incorporated byreference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to firearm stocks forshoulder-fired weapons. More specifically, the invention permits arifle's receiver or other long arm's stock to rotate independently fromthe rifle's butt stock around the horizontal axis to permit increasedaccuracy in difficult firing situations.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Traditionally butt stocks are a simple, rigid component extending fromthe receiver of the firearm rearward and engage the user's shoulder whenthe firearm is in the shoulder firing position. It is also important fora rifle butt stock to be simple and reliable, with a small number ofparts, quickly and quietly adjustable, and very rugged. Increasing theadjustability of the butt stock increases the accuracy of firing whenchanging target points or firing positions. However, currently makingbutt stock adjustments in the field for accurate firing can be difficultand time consuming.

Conventional methods include many types of rifle butt stocks that allowthe user to make adjustments to the length of pull and cheek rest heightto improve the comfort, fit, and flexibility of the rifle for theindividual user. Many different methods are used to secure and releasethe moving pieces. Some stocks require the loosening and tightening ofnuts and bolts to change positions.

Another method describes a mechanism, which may be integral with thefirearm parts, and allows the butt of a shouldered firearm, that eithershoots shot or projectiles, to be pivoted about an axis; or where thestock butt is pivoted by design and fixed in place allowing the butt ofa shoulder-fired weapon to be pivoted about a central point. However,this mechanism only applies to shouldered firearms where the firingmechanism, barrel, and sighting device are elevated above the stockbutt.

Yet another method describes a rapidly-adjustable butt stock assemblycomprised of a butt stock, a buffer, a slot cylinder, a key cylinder,and keys. The butt stock has a cylindrical recess with lengthwise keygrooves for receiving the slot and key cylinders. The key cylinder isattached to the buffer and carries one or more keys, in which keysextend through the key cylinder and the slot cylinder and into the keygrooves of the butt stock. The slot cylinder has at least one lengthwiseslot with a plurality of transverse slots extending from it. To adjustthe length of the assembly, the user rotates the slot cylinder so thatthe keys rotate out of the transverse slots and into the lengthwise slotof the slot cylinder thus permitting the key cylinder to move axiallywith respect to the butt stock. However, this mechanism can prevent thebutt stock from fitting firmly on the user's shoulder, which can preventthe rest of the weapon from rotating to aim at the target.

Therefore, there is a need for a mechanism that allows the butt stockportion of the shouldered firearm to remain in a 90 degree verticalposition tucked into the user's shoulder, while the rest of the weaponcan be rotated around the vertical axis. Such a needed device wouldprovide the capability to keep a firearm firmly against the user'sshoulder while rotating to another sight mounted on the side of theweapon. This mechanism would be relatively easy to adjust and allow theuser to improve the comfort, fit, and flexibility of the weapon underdifficult firing conditions. Moreover, such a needed mechanism wouldincrease the adjustability of the butt stock and the accuracy of firing.The present embodiment overcomes prior art shortcomings by accomplishingthese critical objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To minimize the limitations found in the prior art, and to minimizeother limitations that will be apparent upon the reading of thespecification, the present invention is a rotating connecter attachingthe lower receiver of a rifle to the butt stock. The invention allowsthe butt stock to remain in a 90 degree vertical position tucked intothe user's shoulder while the rest of the weapon can be rotatedcontinuously around the vertical axis against the force of the spring tomaximum rotation to 45 degrees from the horizontal and more preferably30 degrees from the horizontal. This provides the capability to keep theweapon firmly against the user's shoulder while rotating to anothersight mounted on the side of the weapon. In the rotated position ifweapon is removed from the shoulder, the butt stock will return to theneutral 90 degree position with the help of the spring.

The preferred embodiment comprises an outer bushing, an inner bushingand at least one bushing cap. The outer bushing includes a flat bottomportion, at least two threaded holes and at least one hollow interiorcavity. The flat bottom portion of the outer bushing comprises a firsthole and a second hole in which the first hole is on the left side andsecond hole is on the right side of the flat bottom portion. The firsthole includes at least one stainless steel ball, a spring plunger and aspring. The second hole includes at least one bushing stop. The at leastone stainless steel ball, the spring plunger, the spring in the firsthole and the at least one bushing stop in the second hole are held inplace utilizing at least one set screw. The spring plunger and thespring in the first hole are frictionally attached to each other. Thebushing stop permits the continuous rotation of the lower receiver to amaximum rotation of 45 degrees from the horizontal and more preferably30 degrees from the horizontal. For a left handed user the contents ofthe first hole and second hole are reversed. The inner bushing isinserted into the at least one hollow interior cavity of the outerbushing. The inner bushing includes a plurality of recesses having athreaded hollow cavity configured to receive the butt stock of therifle. The inner bushing fits inside the at least one hollow interiorcavity of the outer bushing and the plurality of recesses permit andlimit the range of rotation of the lower receiver. The rotation of thelower receiver is achieved by depressing the spring. The plurality ofrecesses in the inner lip of the inner bushing are in direct contactwith the contents of the first hole and second hole on the flat bottomportion of the outer bushing. The at least one stainless ball in thefirst hole is in direct contact with the spring plunger and theplurality of recesses in the inner bushing. The plurality of recesses inthe inner bushing is in direct contact with the at least one bushingstop. A plurality of shims are inserted at the at least one hollowinterior cavity of the outer bushing. The plurality of shims may be ofstainless steel or any other light weights, high strength alloys orother wear-resistant plastics. The rotating connector further comprisesat least one removable bushing cap attached to at least two threadedholes of the outer bushing utilizing a plurality of threaded fastenersconfigured to fit over the inner bushing to hold it in the outerbushing.

These and other advantages and features of the present invention aredescribed with specificity so as to make the present inventionunderstandable to one of ordinary skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale inorder to enhance their clarity and improve understanding of thesevarious elements and embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, elementsthat are known to be common and well understood to those in the industryare not depicted in order to provide a clear view of the variousembodiments of the invention, thus the drawings are generalized in formin the interest of clarity and conciseness.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rotating connecter for connecting alower receiver of a rifle to a butt stock installed on an AR15 stylerifle according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the rotating connecter for connecting thelower receiver of the rifle to the butt stock according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inner bushing of the rotatingconnector for connecting the lower receiver of the rifle to the buttstock according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A & 4B illustrate the position of at least one stainless steelball, a spring plunger and a spring in a first hole of a flat bottomportion of the rotating connector during the normal position and therotating position of the rifle respectively according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rotating connecter for connectingthe lower receiver of the rifle to the butt stock in use according tothe preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following discussion addresses a number of embodiments andapplications of the present invention. Reference is made to theaccompanying drawings which illustrate specific embodiments in which theinvention may be practiced. It is to be understood that otherembodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departingfrom the scope of the present invention.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be usedindependently of one another or in combination with other features.However, any single inventive feature may not address any of theproblems discussed above or only address one of the problems discussedabove. Further, one or more of the problems discussed above may not befully addressed by any of the features described below. The inventionwill now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing whichdoes not limit the scope and the ambit of the invention.

Turning first to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a rotating connecter 12for connecting a lower receiver 16 of a rifle 10 to a butt stock 14installed on an AR15 style rifle 10 according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention is illustrated. A rotating connecter12 connected between the butt stock 14 and the lower receiver 16 of therifle 10 permits the lower receiver 16 to be rotated around thehorizontal axis of the rifle's 10 barrel independently of the butt stock14.

Referring to FIG. 2, an exploded view of the rotating connecter 12 forconnecting the lower receiver 16 of the rifle 10 to the butt stock 14according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention isdepicted. The preferred embodiment comprises an outer bushing 18, aninner bushing 20 and at least one bushing cap 46. The outer bushing 18includes a flat bottom portion 22, at least two threaded holes 24 and atleast one hollow interior cavity 26. The outer bushing 18 may bemachined as an individual part as an aftermarket add on or machined aspart of the lower receiver 16. The flat bottom portion 22 of the outerbushing 18 comprises a first hole 28 and a second hole 30 in which thefirst hole 28 is on the left side and second hole 30 is on the rightside of the flat bottom portion. The first hole 28 includes at least onestainless steel ball 32, a spring plunger 34 and a spring 36 wherein thesecond hole includes at least one bushing stop 40. The at least onestainless steel ball 32, the spring plunger 34, the spring 36 in thefirst hole 28 and the at least one bushing stop 40 in the second hole 30are held in place utilizing at least one set screw 38. For a left handeduser, the contents of the first hole 28 and second hole 30 are reversed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inner bushing 20 of the rotatingconnector 12 for connecting the lower receiver 16 of the rifle 10 to thebutt stock 14 according to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. The inner bushing 20 is inserted into the at least one hollowinterior cavity 26 of the outer bushing 18. The inner bushing 20includes a plurality of recesses 42 having a threaded hollow cavityconfigured to receive the butt stock 14 of the rifle 10. The innerbushing 20 fits inside the at least one hollow interior cavity 26 of theouter bushing 18 and the plurality of recesses 42 permit and limit therange of rotation of the lower receiver 16. A plurality of shims 44 areinserted at the at least one hollow interior cavity 26 of the outerbushing 18. The plurality of shims 44 may be of stainless steel or anyother light weights, high strength alloys or other wear-resistantplastics. The rotating connector 12 further comprises at least onebushing cap 46 removably attached to at least two threaded holes 24 ofthe outer bushing 18 utilizing a plurality of threaded fasteners 48 anda plurality of outer washers 50, configured to fit over the innerbushing 20 to hold it in the outer bushing 18. The inner bushing 20 hasa lip that fits inside at least one bushing cap 46 that permits the buttstock 14 to be thread into the inner bushing 20.

FIGS. 4A & 4B illustrate the position of the at least one stainlesssteel ball 32, the spring plunger 34 and the spring 36 in the first hole28 of the flat bottom portion 22 of the rotating connector 12 during thenormal position and the rotating position of the rifle 10 respectivelyaccording to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Thespring plunger 34 and the spring 36 in the first hole 28 arefrictionally attached to each other. The bushing stop 40 allows therotation of the lower receiver 16 to 30 degrees. The rotation of thelower receiver 16 is activated by depressing the spring 36. Theplurality of recesses 42 in the inner lip of the inner bushing 20 is indirect contact with the contents of the first hole 28 and second hole 30on the flat bottom portion 22 of the outer bushing 18. The at least onestainless ball 32 in the first hole 28 is in direct contact with thespring plunger 34 and the plurality of recesses 42 in the inner bushing20. The plurality of recesses 42 in the inner bushing 20 is in directcontact with the at least one bushing stop 40 also.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rotating connecter 12 for connectingthe lower receiver 14 of the rifle 10 to the butt stock 16 in useaccording to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Therotating connector 12 allows the butt stock portion 16 of the stock toremain in a 90 degree vertical position tucked into the user's 52shoulder while the rest of the weapon can be rotated continuously aroundthe vertical axis against the force of the spring 36 to a maximumrotation to 45 degrees from the horizontal and more preferably 30degrees from the horizontal. This allows the user 52 to keep the weapon10 firmly against the user's 52 shoulder while rotating to another sightmounted on the side of the weapon 10. In the rotated position if weapon10 is removed from the shoulder the butt stock 14 will return to theneutral 90 degree position with the help of the spring 36. The outerbushing 18 and inner bushing 20 is very unique in the way that allowsthe user 52 to stay locked on a target in a way that can keep the weapon10 on the target while switching between optics. Both outer bushing 18and inner bushing 20 allow the user 52 to keep their cheek and head onthe butt stock 14 of the weapon 10. The automatic spring return isthere, so the butt stock 14 returns to normal position. The user 52needs this return so when the weapon 52 is pulled away from the shoulderhe or she knows that the butt stock will return to its standardposition.

Other embodiments are within the claims. The preceding recitation isprovided as an example of the preferred embodiment and an alternateembodiment for illustrative purposes and is not meant to limit thenature or scope of the present appended claims. Variations of theinvention are anticipated by those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A rotating connecter for connecting a lowerreceiver of a rifle to a butt stock comprising: an outer bushing; aninner bushing inserted into at least one hollow interior cavity of theouter bushing; and at least one removable bushing cap attached to atleast two threaded holes of the outer bushing; whereby the at least onebushing cap is configured to fit over the inner bushing to hold it inthe outer bushing.
 2. The rotating connecter of claim 1 wherein theouter bushing includes a flat bottom portion, at least two threadedholes, and at least one hollow interior cavity.
 3. The rotatingconnecter of claim 2 wherein the flat bottom portion of the outerbushing includes a first hole and a second hole on the left and rightside of the flat bottom portion of the outer bushing, the first holeincludes at least one stainless steel ball, a spring plunger and aspring and the second hole includes at least one bushing stop, the atleast one stainless steel ball, the spring plunger, the spring in thefirst hole and the at least one bushing stop in the second hole are heldin place utilizing at least one set screw.
 4. The rotating connecter ofclaim 2 wherein the at least one hollow interior cavity of the outerbushing includes a plurality of shims.
 5. The rotating connecter ofclaim 1 wherein the inner bushing includes a plurality of recesseshaving a threaded hollow cavity configured to receive the butt stock. 6.The rotating connecter of claim 1 wherein the at least one removablebushing cap is attached to at least two threaded holes of the outerbushing utilizing a plurality of threaded fasteners and a plurality ofouter washers.
 7. A rotating connecter for connecting a lower receiverof a rifle to a butt stock, the rotating connector comprises: an outerbushing, the outer bushing includes a flat bottom portion, at least twothreaded holes and at least one hollow interior cavity; a first hole anda second hole on the left and right side of the flat bottom portion ofthe outer bushing; a plurality of shims inserted at the at least onehollow interior cavity of the outer bushing; an inner bushing insertedinto the at least one hollow interior cavity of the outer bushing, theinner bushing includes a plurality of recesses having a threaded hollowcavity configured to receive the butt stock; and at least one bushingcap removably attached to at least two threaded holes of the outerbushing utilizing a plurality of threaded fasteners and a plurality ofouter washers; whereby the at least one bushing caps is configured tofit over the inner bushing to hold it in the outer bushing.
 8. Therotating connecter of claim 7 wherein the first hole includes at leastone stainless steel ball, a spring plunger and a spring.
 9. The rotatingconnecter of claim 7 wherein the second hole includes at least onebushing stop.
 10. The rotating connecter of claim 7 wherein the at leastone stainless steel ball, the spring plunger, the spring in the firsthole and the at least one bushing stop in the second hole are held inplace utilizing at least one set screw.
 11. The rotating connecter ofclaim 7 wherein the plurality of recesses in the inner lip of the innerbushing is in direct communicative contact with the contents of thefirst hole and the second hole.
 12. The rotating connecter of claim 8wherein the at least one stainless steel ball is in direct contact withthe spring plunger and the plurality of recesses in the inner bushing.13. The rotating connecter of claim 9 wherein at least one bushing stopis in direct contact with the plurality of recesses in the innerbushing.
 14. The rotating connecter of claim 8 wherein the springplunger is frictionally attached to the spring.
 15. The rotatingconnecter of claim 7 wherein the rotation of the lower receiver ispermitted by depressing the spring.
 16. A rotating connecter forconnecting a lower receiver of a rifle to a butt stock, the rotatingconnector comprises: an outer bushing, the outer bushing includes a flatbottom portion, at least two threaded holes and at least one hollowinterior cavity; a first hole and a second hole on the left and rightside of the flat bottom portion of the outer bushing, the first holeincludes at least one stainless steel ball, a spring plunger and aspring and the second hole includes at least one bushing stop, the atleast one stainless steel ball, the spring plunger, the spring in thefirst hole and the at least one bushing stop in the second hole beingheld in place utilizing at least one set screw; a plurality of shimsinserted at the at least one hollow interior cavity of the outerbushing; an inner bushing inserted into the at least one hollow interiorcavity of the outer bushing, the inner bushing includes a plurality ofrecesses having a threaded hollow cavity configured to receive the buttstock; and at least one removable bushing cap attached to at least twothreaded holes of the outer bushing utilizing a plurality of threadedfasteners and a plurality of outer washers; whereby the at least onebushing cap is configured to fit over the inner bushing to hold it inthe outer bushing.
 17. The rotating connecter of claim 16 wherein theplurality of recesses in the inner lip of the inner bushing is in directcommunicative contact with the contents of the first hole and the secondhole.
 18. The rotating connecter of claim 16 wherein the at least onestainless steel ball is in direct contact with the spring plunger andthe plurality of recesses in the inner bushing.
 19. The rotatingconnecter of claim 16 wherein at least one bushing stop is in directcontact with the plurality of recesses in the inner bushing.
 20. Therotating connecter of claim 16 wherein the spring plunger isfrictionally attached to the spring.
 21. The rotating connecter of claim16 wherein the rotation of the lower receiver is permitted by depressingthe spring.